The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday rejected the plea seeking a stay on the victory notification of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani as a Senator.

According to the details, the victory of former prime minister was challenged by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

PTI’s lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar, Parliamentary Leader for Railways Farrukh Habib and member of National Assembly (MNA) Kanwal Shauzab appeared before the top electoral body and recorded their arguments.

During the proceedings, Barrister Ali Zafar claimed that rigging was carried out during the Senate elections through money and party tickets. Evidence of rigging was found a day before the elections, he told.

The member of ECP in Punjab, during the proceedings, asked about making those who were offered money as the party in the case over which, Barrister Ali Zafar said that they cannot be made party but the court can call them as witnesses.

In addition to this, the election commission directed the PTI leaders to club all the pleas together and submit them again to the electoral body. The ECP also directed that those who took the money and those who gave must be made respondents in the petition.

On the other hand, today PTI challenged the victory of the joint candidate of Yousaf Raza Gillani in the Senate elections in Islamabad High Court (IHC). PTI leader Ali Nawaz filed a plea against the success of Yousaf Raza Gillani in the high court.

It is also worth mentioning here that PDM had formally nominated former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani as its joint candidate for the Senate chairperson election, set to be held on March 12.